8 cards from HDFC, Axis, SBI, and ICICI in the Rs.2,500-5,000 annual fee range. Side-by-side rewards, lounge access, milestone benefits, and forex markup. Updated May 2026.
Best card for your goal
✈️
Best for International Travel
SBI Elite
Lowest forex (1.99%) + 6 international Priority Pass visits
🌍
Best for Air Miles
Axis ATLAS
5 EDGE Miles per Rs.100 on travel, 1:2 transfer to 20+ airline partners
🏨
Best for Hotel Stays
HDFC Marriott Bonvoy
Free Night Award + Silver Elite status + 24 lounges/year (no spend criteria)
🛍️
Best for Shopping & Dining
HDFC Regalia Gold
5X on Myntra/Nykaa/M&S/Reliance Digital + 10X via SmartBuy
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HDFC
Rs.2,500/year
Regalia Gold
Lifestyle shoppers who use Myntra/Nykaa/M&S regularly + occasional travellers
Lounges / year
12 Domestic
6 International
Forex
2%
lifestyleshoppinglounge
SBI
Rs.2,999/year
Prime
High-spend lifestyle users with regular dining + grocery spends
Lounges / year
8 Domestic
4 International
Forex
3.5%
lifestyledininglounge
HDFC
Rs.3,000/year
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott loyalists + frequent travellers needing high lounge access (24/year)
Lounges / year
12 Domestic
12 International
Forex
3.5%
hotelstravellounge
Axis
Rs.3,000/year
Select
Balanced everyday users who want shopping perks + decent travel benefits at moderate fee
High-income individuals (Rs.9.6L+ p.a.) seeking lifestyle + entertainment perks
Lounges / year
16 Domestic
2 International
Forex
3.5%
lifestyleentertainmentlounge
SBI
Rs.4,999/year
Elite
International travellers who value low forex + entertainment benefits
Lounges / year
8 Domestic
6 International
Forex
1.99%
travellow-forexentertainment
Axis
Rs.5,000/year
ATLAS
Frequent international travellers who value airline mile transfers and tier-based rewards
Lounges / year
8 Domestic
4 International
Forex
3.5%
travelair-milestiered
KharchaUdhar Insider Tip
Annual fee alone is misleading. The real metric is net annual value — total reward earnings + lounge value (~Rs.1,500/visit domestic, Rs.3,500/visit international) + milestone benefits, minus the annual fee. A Rs.5,000 card with Rs.30,000 in real annual value beats a Rs.500 card with Rs.2,000 in benefits. Use our Reward & Milestone Calculator to plug in your spending profile and see net value per card.
Card features, fees, and reward structures are indicative as of May 2026 and subject to change at the issuing bank's discretion. Verify current terms on the bank's official website before applying. Several card benefits (e.g. HDFC Regalia Gold reward changes from May 15, 2026, lounge spend criteria) are scheduled to change. KharchaUdhar is an independent educational platform - we are not a credit card issuer or broker. Comparisons are for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. We may earn referral commissions when you apply through our links, at no extra cost to you.